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  Connecting element and circuit connecting device using the connecting elementUSPTO Application #: 20070020962Title: Connecting element and circuit connecting device using the connecting element Abstract: A connecting element includes a support member, a flexible substrate wrapped around the support member, and elastic contacts provided on the flexible substrate. A positioning hole is formed in the support member. A first positioning component is positioned and soldered on a metal layer formed on a motherboard, and a second positioning component is positioned and soldered on a metal layer formed on an electronic component. The first positioning component is inserted into the positioning hole in the connecting element, and the second positioning member is fitted to the first positioning component. Accordingly, the connecting element is positioned with respect to both the motherboard and the electronic component. (end of abstract) Agent: Beyer Weaver & Thomas, LLP - Oakland, CA, US Inventors: Shin Yoshida, Taiji Okamoto, Koji Dono, Nobuyuki Okuda USPTO Applicaton #: 20070020962 - Class: 439067000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Connectors, Preformed Panel Circuit Arrangement, E.g., Pcb, Icm, Dip, Chip, Wafer, Etc., With Provision To Conduct Electricity From Panel Circuit To Another Panel Circuit, Flexible Panel The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070020962. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a connecting element having a plurality of elastic contacts to be connected to conducting portions of a circuit component, such as a circuit board and an IC package, and a circuit connecting device that positions and connects the connecting element to the circuit component. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-175859, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,362, discloses a connecting element in which a plurality of spiral elastic contacts are provided on one side of a plate-shaped support member and a plurality of fixed contacts are provided on the other side of the support member, the fixed contacts being conductively connected to the respective elastic contacts in one-to-one correspondence. [0005] The fixed contacts of the connecting element are brought into contact with respective conducting portions provided on a motherboard. Then, in that state, spherical connecting terminals of an IC package are pressed against the elastic contacts of the connecting element. Accordingly, the spherical connecting terminals of the IC package are individually connected to the respective conducting portions on the motherboard via the connecting elements. [0006] According to this invention, the IC package can be replaced since the spherical connecting terminals of the IC package are connected to the elastic contacts of the connecting element by being elastically pressed against the elastic contacts. [0007] When the connecting element described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-175859 is used, it is necessary to fix the connecting element to the motherboard such that the fixed contacts provided on the connecting element are accurately positioned on the respective conducting portions of the motherboard in one-to-one correspondence. In addition, when the IC package is placed on the connecting element, it is necessary to position the IC package such that the spherical terminals provided on the IC package are positioned on the respective elastic contacts of the connecting element in one-to-one correspondence. [0008] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-175859 discloses a structure in which the motherboard has a holder for holding the IC package at both sides thereof and the IC package is positioned and held by this holder. However, a structure for positioning the plate-shaped support member of the connecting element on the motherboard is not clearly described. In this type of circuit connecting device, to accurately connect the terminals provided on the IC package to the respective conducting portions provided on the motherboard, it is necessary to accurately position and fix the connecting element to the motherboard. [0009] In addition, also when a connecting element having terminals on top and bottom faces thereof is mounted on a motherboard at an arbitrary position and an IC package or the like is mounted on the connecting element so that the motherboard and the IC package or the like are conductively connected to each other by the connecting element, it is necessary to accurately position and fix the connecting element to the motherboard. However, when the size of the components is reduced and the circuit density is increased, the size of the contacts provided on the connecting element is reduced and the density of the contacts is increased. Therefore, it becomes difficult to position the connecting element such that the contacts on the connecting element reliably face the respective conducting portions on the motherboard. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] To solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting element having elastic contacts that can be accurately positioned with respect to circuit components, such as a circuit board, an IC package, and other electronic components, and a circuit connecting device using the connecting element. [0011] According to the present invention, a connecting element includes a support member having an opposing face for connection and a plurality of elastic contacts provided on the opposing face. The support member has a positioning hole, a positioning recess, or a positioning projection in a region free from the elastic contacts. [0012] In the connecting element according to the present invention, a hole, a recess, or a projection is formed directly on the support member on which the elastic contacts are provided. Therefore, the connecting element can be positioned with respect to a circuit component, such as a circuit board and an IC package, using the hole, the recess, or the projection as a reference. Accordingly, the elastic contacts can be reliably caused to face conducting portions provided on the circuit component. [0013] According to the present invention, the opposing face may be provided on each of two opposite sides of the support member and the elastic contacts may include a first group of elastic contacts provided on one of the opposing faces and a second group of elastic contacts provided on the other one of the opposing faces, the first group of elastic contacts being conductively connected to the second group of elastic contacts. [0014] In the above-described structure, the first group of elastic contacts, the second group of elastic contacts, and a wiring pattern for conductively connecting the first group of elastic contacts to the second group of elastic contacts may be provided on one side of a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate being fixed to the support member in a bent fashion so that the first group of elastic contacts are positioned on the one of the opposing faces and the second group of elastic contacts are positioned on the other one of the opposing faces. [0015] Alternatively, according to the present invention, the opposing face may be provided at each of two opposite sides of the support member, and the elastic contacts may be provided on one of the opposing faces. In addition, a plurality of fixed contacts may be provided on the other one of the opposing faces, the elastic contacts being conductively connected to the fixed contacts. [0016] In the above-described structure, the elastic contacts, the fixed contacts, and a wiring pattern for conductively connecting the elastic contacts to the fixed contacts may be provided on one side of a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate being fixed to the support member in a bent fashion so that the elastic contacts are positioned on the one of the opposing faces and the fixed contacts are positioned on the other one of the opposing faces. [0017] In the connecting element having the above-described structure, a single flexible substrate is used to arrange the elastic contacts and the fixed contacts that are conductively connected to each other on the two opposing faces of the support member. Therefore, the structure can be simplified. [0018] According to the present invention, preferably, positioning means is provided for positioning the flexible substrate with respect to the support member and fixing the flexible substrate to the support member. [0019] When the flexible substrate is positioned and fixed to the support member by the positioning means, the relative positions between the hole, the recess, or the projection on the support member and the elastic contacts or the fixed contacts can be determined with high accuracy. [0020] A circuit connecting device according to the present invention includes any one of the above-described connecting elements and a positioning component for positioning the connecting element. The positioning component is attachable to a circuit component having conducting portions to which the elastic contacts are connected. [0021] In the circuit connecting device, the positioning component and the support member are fitted to each other so that the connecting element is positioned with respect to the circuit component. [0022] Accordingly, the positioning component has a portion that is fitted into the positioning hole formed in the support member or a hole into which the projection provided on the support member is fitted. Continue reading... Full patent description for Connecting element and circuit connecting device using the connecting element Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Connecting element and circuit connecting device using the connecting element patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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